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Patrick Peterson felt limited by defensive scheme in 2018

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Arizona Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson famously apologized this week for the trade request he made in the middle of last season. The whole incident arose because of frustration — frustration with the team’s lack of success and also frustration with the way he was being used on defense.

“Being the type of player I am, I put so much into it in the offseason, and obviously I work on taking receivers out,” Peterson said. “I was very limited in doing that, and that’s what keeps me in the game. That’s what keeps me energetic. I know I have something to look forward to on Sundays.”

In the Cardinals’ defensive scheme a year ago, he was asked to do more zone coverage, something he believed would allow him to do more and make more plays on passes.

While the pass defense was one of the best in the league, the team only had seven interceptions, two by Peterson.

2019 brings a new defensive scheme under Vance Joseph, one Peterson expects will give him the opportunity to always cover the opponents’ No. 1 receiver.

We do not yet know how that will change the results fo the defense overall, but it will at least pacify Peterson and keep him engaged in his job better than a season ago.

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The Arizona Cardinals re-signed running back Kenyan Drake this offseason on a one-year transition tag deal, which will pay him almost $8.5 million in 2020. He rushed for 643 yards and eight touchdowns in eight games after being acquired via trade.

Over a 16-game season, that projects to 16 rushing touchdowns, which is the franchise record in a season.

Can he set a franchise record in 2020? Where can he finish season?

Seven players have finished with at least 10 rushing touchdowns. Check them out below.

Listen to the latest from Cards Wire's Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red.